1. The right mindset
Despite the disappointment, the players are convinced that they can do it. “If we go there with the idea that we’re not going to succeed, we can stay hereconfides Ghent midfielder Mathias Delorge. We go there with the idea that we will succeed, because we have enough quality in this group. We have enough willpower.”
The idea is to remember the double confrontation with Scotland during the qualifying campaign: a defeat at home (0-2) then a decisive victory there. “There must be convictionse motive Gill Swerts. We have to replay the Scotland game in our heads. It’s a 180-minute match: 90 have passed and 90 remain. We have to approach it in a positive way.”
2. The error quota is reached
The frustration in Louvain was all the greater as the two goals conceded came down to bad luck. “If you look at the whole campaign, we conceded very few goals from open play and it was every time because of an individual error, it’s a shame.”observe Gill Swerts. “These are not real defensive errors. Above all, it’s very unfortunate and it’s difficult to explain.”
The Diablotins lost 0-2 against the Czech Republic because of a big error from Lammens and saw the Euro slip away (VIDEO)
The coach therefore hopes to have put an end to this problem. In any case, this is a condition sine qua non to qualification. “I think they will start the match with the same approach. Especially on the counterattack where they are dangerous. So we have to make sure we don’t concede a goal, then we have to score three.”
3. All that was missing was efficiency
A goal canceled for an offside of a few centimeters and several other big opportunities. During the first leg, the Belgians made the Czech defense suffer a lot, but without scoring. “We had the opportunities, but the goalkeeper released several balls. So we’ll have to be more killer up front.”thinks Lucas Stassin, one of the best Belgians on the pitch on Friday who will have to set an example in front of goal.
Because beyond that, the Imps have evolved rather well in their 3-5-2 which we had to adopt a little out of obligation (no real winger). “I don’t think we’ll have to change much for the next match. Just be a little more focused.”confirms Stassin. “If we make more concrete and lead 0-1, we will manage to sow doubt among them.”hopes Gill Swerts who will perhaps manage his last match as coach of the U21s, given the end of his contract after the campaign and the arrival of Vincent Mannaert as sports director of the Belgian Union and his desire for change.
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